Creek that

Breaks the Stone

Tribe of Floating Stones

black and white speckled tom with yellow eyes

Creek is not visually a normal cat. His fur is an odd pattern of black and white specks that go from the tips of his ears all the way down to the tip of his tail. Many who didn't know him young claim that his is a white cat that played to much in the sap of the pines and cause mud to stain his fur. The has-beens (who love to fabricate stories of their leaders) claim that once, Creek's fur had been black as night, but over time he had received blessing after blessing from the Tribe of Endless life, causing his dark fur to change to white, showing that he was truly a leader picked by their ancestors. 

While leader-like in his stance, if a cat were to look him over they would notice that he is not well endowed in the form of muscles or bulk. He is considered a slim tom, but this slender and graceful form has often cause a she-cat or two to watch him as he wanders around the camp, sharing tongues and checking on the tribe members. Once chosen to be a prey-hunter, Creek has yet to lose features that makes one perfect for the hunting job. 

The biggest part of Creek that sticks out to most are his pale yellow eyes. Contrasted against his fur, his eyes seem to catch and notice everything, even on the darkest of night. It is not uncommon for kit-mothers to whisper to their restless kits "Be warned, Creek's eyes will find you, even on the moonless nights. You will see two yellow dots and them suddenly...he will be here." They do not do this to scare the kits, but to let them know that their teller is always watching over the tribe. And that is only fact. 

The first thing you need to know about Creek is that there are two sides to him. One that is common and claimed to be his only personality, and one that is only seen by those he has deemed worthy (currently that is only his sister).

The most dominate of these personalities is the one of the leader. He is kind and caring, but stern and considerate. He puts the needs of his tribe first and demands respect with a quite tongue. He never makes decisions on haste but rather contemplates every side of the situation before announcing a decision. Though young, he shows great ability on analyzing any troubles put before him and coming up with a best solution. He is not above admitting mistakes and is often seen asking the has-beens and older members of the tribe for assistance. Many do not see this as naive, but signs of a great, strong leader. He is young thus he is still learning. If his tribe is threatened he is seen as fearless, but as they are in a peaceful time, very few have seen his angered side

The side that he hides from everyone, mostly in his den away from prying eyes, is the personality of fear and anxiety that is constantly coursing through his veins. Hidden in the solitude, Creek is timid and small, reprimanding himself constantly over careless mistakes and never seeming to give himself a break. He wants his clan to thrive and grow but doesn't seem to understand that is the very thing that is happening. He is often harsh with himself to the point he has to be coaxed into calming down. This side of him can usually be calmed around those he trusts (His sister, and eventually future mate) but he would never let his tribe see him like this.

Creek was a kit that was born under unusual circumstances. In the Tribe of Floating Stones there are whispers that the souls of cats who have left the world too early may return as a kit to continue on their life's journey. This particular event did not happen to him, however he was not named by the Teller as was custom to the tribe. On the night Branch of the Fern (Fern), a has-been she-cat named Yarrow on the Hill slipped into the birthing mother's den and murmured a blessing of prosperity and guidance over the litter before continuing to help the fearful she-cat. The kits were born and named Creek that Breaks the Stone and Lilac in the Frozen Lake. Their father, Gust of the Sea Wind (Gust), was furious saying the names were bad omens to place upon their kits, however before any argument was passed Yarrow passed with a sigh of content.

As moons passed, the events of their birth seemed to pass from everyone in the Tribes mind. Creek and Lilac were strong kits, promising members of the tribes future. Lilac, solid white after her father, was a strong she-cat and clever in her wit. Creek, though a bit slimmer with fur as dark as the night, was agile and a quick learner, begging anyone who would give him attention to teach him something new. Fern and Gust were proud of their kits, but never quit worrying about their children's names and the omens that Yarrow had placed upon them. 

Together the sibling began their training and upon Twelve moons, Lilac was granted permission to train under a Stone Guard name Thunder in the Night, while Creek started training under a prey-hunter name Talon of the Crow. Talon was strict with Creek, but not uncaring. As they trained, Talon began noticing white spots appearing among Creek's solid black fur. Concerned for his to-be's health the teller was summoned to look Creek over. The teller at the time, Rain that Waters the Land, was an older she-cat who had eased the minds of Creek and Lilacs's parents long ago. She did the same to Creek assuring him that his fur was going through a late transformation, though from a distance, Creek always felt Rain's eyes upon him.  

That leaf-fall a terrible sickness moved through the tribe, taking the lives of many including Fern and Gale, as well As River's Teller Apprentice. Saddened by the loss, Creek spend most of his time with his sister trying his best to comfort her and himself. He flicked his ears against the whispers, murmurs of Lilac's name ringing through the tribe dens. Was Yarrow's omen finally coming true?

Many moons later, on a night where rain and wind pounded the Tribe Stone, River called the cats of the tribe together. Cold and confused the cats listened as River yowled over the storm that she had chosen a new apprentice. Many swore they had heard wrong over the wails of wind and the pounding of the rain, but come morning the truth was set in stone. 

"Creek that Breaks the Stone shall be your next Teller."

Barely believing it himself, or thinking it had been a trick of a dream, the young tom, his fur now speckled black and white, was surprised to find that River was awaking him for a morning patrol rather than Talon. A bit numb and confused he followed his new mentor away from the home he had come to love with his sister and into the den and live of the next teller. 

As moons passed, Creek obediently trained with River. She had explained she didn't feel as she had much time. He was already 20 moons and the other apprentice had been training for nearly 12 when he had passed. River did everything she could to assure him this decision was right, but Creek never seemed to quite believe her. He missed his time with his sister and being around those he had called friends. But the duties of the Teller were many and breaks seemed more of a passing dream then a reality. River was doing her best to cheer him up, assure him that it would get better, but as moons quickly came and went, Creek noticed his mentors failing health. 

Then on one clear night, Creek heard the rasping call. Surged with panic he rushed to River's side begging her to hold on. He had only been training as the Teller for 6 moons. He wasn't ready to do it alone. She purred weakly and pressed her nose to his chest. She murmured a phrase he had heard many times before in his training but never truly believed until that moment. 

"You are the first ripple, Creek."

Creek has now been the leader of the Tribe of Floating Stones for two moons now. He has had much support in these early changes, but he smells the ripple starting to shift through the air.

Since becoming leader Creek has watched as a sickness has overcome the tribe and even took one of his lives from him. He sent a young to-be, Hemlock, out in search of help and he waits for his return, praying that the tribe of endless life hasn't abandoned them completely.